AP source: Hawks, Sefolosha agree to 3-year deal

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks have reached an agreement with small forward Thabo Sefolosha on a deal that leaves the team sufficient salary cap room for additional offseason moves.

The Hawks and Sefolosha have agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said Friday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because teams can’t officially sign free agents until the NBA’s moratorium on deals is lifted on Thursday.

The agreement was first reported by The Oklahoman newspaper.

The deal with Sefolosha comes after the Hawks on Tuesday cleared more than $15 million in salary cap space by trading guard Lou Williams and the draft rights to center Lucas Nogueira to Toronto for forward John Salmons. The Hawks could have about $11.5 million for additional signings if they pay the $1 million buyout of Salmons’ $7 million salary.

The Hawks are believed to have interest in Chicago Bulls free-agent forward Luol Deng.

The 6-foot-7 Sefolosha averaged 6.3 points as a starter in 61 games last season for Oklahoma City. He is known as a strong defender but his 3-point percentage fell from 41.9 percent in 2012-13 to 31.6 percent.

Sefolosha, a native of Switzerland, has averaged 5.8 points in eight seasons with the Chicago Bulls and Thunder. He set career highs with 108 3-pointers made and 7.6 points per game in the 2012-13 season with the Thunder.

DeMarre Carroll was Atlanta’s primary small forward last season. Kyle Korver, normally a shooting guard, also played small forward in small lineups.